Arizona's "Fall Foliage Finale"
is here at the Arboretum

        Here's a fall color report for the week of November 24-December 1: Autumn is late! The season has just barely begun to transform clumps of leaves in our Chinese pistachio trees from green to gold; peak foliage is expected to be late this year, most likely peaking on the first or second weekend of December.
        Join us November 24 and 25 for our annual "Fall Foliage Finale" festival with cedar flute music by Native American recording artist Joseph Leal (pictured below), spiced apple cider and donuts -- and informal walking tours where visitors can improve their photography and camera skills. Or be here Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for a guided walking tour lead by Author Christine Maxa (Arizona's Best Autumn Color: 50 Great Hikes").
        Pistachio trees are usually most vivid across from the Wing Memorial Herb Garden, near the suspension bridge at the east end of the High Trail and also along the Main Trail as you walk above Ayer Lake. On November 24 and 25, Scottsdale artist Paul Kinslow (shown at left) and Phoenix photographer Gene Almendinger (below at right) will lead basic photography walking tours.

         Kinslow's November 24 session will last from from 9:30 a.m. until noon, while Almendinger's Sunday outing will be from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Both of these informal walking tours are designed to teach participants basic camera functions including white-balance, aperture-and-exposure control, and bracketing in order to improve their fall color photographs. Kinslow and Almendinger will also talk about how to anticipate ideal lighting, and how to frame (composition). Each walk is included with regular daily Arboretum admission, but limited to a dozen pre-registered participants. To sign up for a session call 520-689-2723.

        The Arboretum is open Thanksgiving Day and Friday (November 23) as well; in fact December 25 is the only day all year that we're closed. Thanksgiving week is an ideal time to bring relatives, friends and out-of-town guests for a walk along the trails. Guided tours are daily at 1:00 and lead by Arboretum volunteer docent tour guides, and from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 both weekend days (November 24-25) visitors can enjoy live music by Prescott resident and Native American recording artist Joseph Leal, who is celebrating the release of his new CD. His music will alternate with half-hour performances on Saturday by guitarist Millie Davis, and on Sunday by singer-songwriter Matt Moran.
        Come enjoy the beauty of falling leaves and peaceful live music -- carry some cash as you walk the trails and buy a cup of spiced apple cider, too, and a donut, too!
        New arrivals to the Grand Canyon State are pleasantly surprised to learn that yes, vivid and photogenic autumn color can be found here in Arizona. Nowhere is it more conveniently photographed than here at the Arboretum, just one hour east of Phoenix or two hour's drive north of Tucson. A simple point-and-shoot 3.9 megapixel Olympus took some of the closeup photos on this page.
        This time of year our staff fields the often-repeated question: "where can I find the best foliage?" Around mid-October the aspens turn golden in the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff, followed by trees lining Oak Creek Canyon (Sedona). Around Halloween the maples begin turning red in the lower mountain ranges such as the Pinals near Globe and the Catalinas near Tucson.
        Boyce Thompson Arboretum has "Arizona's Fall Foliage Finale" about a month after the most colorful leaves have fallen in the higher elevation deciduous forests. Peak color at the Arboretum varies each year, but optimal weeks are typically from about Nov. 20 through Dec. 5. Could autumn truly be complete without getting outside to enjoy splendid fall color and the swirl of leaves carried on a November breeze?
        Golden backlit leaves of a honey locust are shown at left, colorful clusters of pyracantha berries at right, and red pistachio leaves below. Bring plenty of film when you visit... a chair and good book, too: there are many places around our trails and gardens to find a quiet place to sit, read and enjoy the gentle sounds of November.
        Visit at the end of our foliage season and December gusts will send pumpkin-orange, red and yellow leaves swirling alongside the trails as you walk through forested collections on a breezy day. More than two miles of paths meander past Pistachio trees, Pomegranate hedges, Combredum and other species, so the Arboretum offers your family and friends a fine Autumnal outing. Tourists flock to New Hampshire and Vermont to see colors like these -- and if you haven't made the effort to get out and see our own foliage right here in Arizona, these images should provide sufficient motivation.
        Pistachio trees turn orange, golden and red hues. There are more than a dozen pistachio trees around our grounds, mature ones with leafy canopies that sprawl 40 feet above. The right mix of temperature and moisture conditions brings peak color to the grove of trees across from the Wing Memorial Herb Garden, where golden autumnal pomegranate hedges lead towards the pumpkin-orange pistachios. One of our most impressive and colorful pistachios is within five minutes walk from the visitor center, and easily accessible to visitors who use walkers or wheelchairs
        According to Boyce Thompson Arboretum Horticulturist Kim Stone, "trees with yellow leaves run from mid-October to early November, while trees with orange to red leaves are at peak color from mid-November through early December. Combretum is usually best in late December but will remain red for several months since these don't drop their leaves." Stone adds that varieties which show color from yellow to golden or copper tones include Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos ssp. inermis), Pomegranate (Punica granatum), and Soapberry (Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii). Also look for Canyon Hackberry (Celtis reticulata), Arizona Sycamore (Platanus racemosa var. wrightii), Pecan and also fruit trees including Jujube (Ziziphus jujube), Native Ash, Black Walnut, Willow, and Cottonwood. Festive clumps of red pyracantha berries (above at right) ripen each fall near the Herb Garden. These are favored by colorful birds such as Northern Cardinal, Spotted Towhee, Phainopepla... and comical little cliff chipmunks and squirrels.
        Look just west of the Herb Garden collection for the pyracantha bush loaded with fruit. Bring a recent magazine or that Summer reading book you meant to finish... plan to spend a peaceful afternoon reading beneath the pistachio tree right in the heart of our Demonstration Garden, where pergolas, waterfalls and warm late afternoon sunshine create a serene atmosphere.

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